Is it possible for someone with a disability or physical handicap to ride a motorcycle?

YESIt is possible and legal for a handicapped person to ride a motorcycle.

They must have or obtain the necessary licence for a motorcycle and they must comply with the mandatory health obligations of the country they live in i.e. not epileptic or prone to blackouts etc.They must then be capable of controlling a motorcycle safely and may be required to demonstrate such.

Controlling a motorcycle with a handicap is generally a question of having the correct adaptation made to the controls applicable to the handicap. Someone missing a right leg for instance may need to have their rear brakes linked to the front brake so they come on together, or they may need to move the break pedal to the left side of their machine.Most physical handicaps can be overcome with some thought, imagination, and the help of a good engineer.

Even severely handicapped people can be found enjoying the motorcycle experience with the aid of a Trike (3 wheeled motorcycle), and many trike manufacturers now offer automatic gear boxes and adaptations (such as wheelchair carriers) for their handicapped customers from new.There are even trikes available now that can be entered on a wheelchair and controlled from it.

In the UK there is a charitable organisation called the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD) who can be seen at many major motorcycling events such as the Motorcycle Show at the NEC.They raise funds for these adaptations so that a handicapped person does not need to find the extra money to get mobile, and have many manufacturers and engineers ready to help. They have helped many disabled riders into the saddleThey have a web site at http://www.nabd.org.UK/ where you can learn more about them and motorcycling with a handicap.

Some attempts at similar organisations have been attempted in the USA but so far without great success.

Doc